Gov Otu Unveils Theme For 20th Calabar Festival

As part of preparations for this year’s Calabar Carnival, the Cross River State governor, Bassey Otu, has unveiled the theme for the fiesta tagged ‘Traces Of Time.’

He assured that the festival would be celebrated in a big way with different socialites in attendance and called on Cross River indigenes home and in the diaspora to assist in making the festival a success.

Otu stated this during the unveiling of theme in Abuja on Thursday night.

He lauded his predecessors, ex-governor Donald Duke and Senator Liyel Imoke for their support.

He was joined by two ex-state governors, Donald Duke and Imoke, leaders of the seven competing bands and experts in the tourism sector, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje and other dignitaries.

The governor pledged to sustain and grow the festival that began in 2005 before he took up the baton in 2023.

He commended the duo for creating the annual festival which attracts tourists from different continents into the state stressing that making Calabar a tourists’ attraction centre during the festivity adds value to the state.

“Carnival Calabar is not just a parade of colours; it is a bold expression of our collective dreams, cultural heritage and economic ingenuity,” he said, beckoning on stakeholders of the event to embrace the festivity with renewed vision.

He celebrated those he described as the unsung heroes of the Carnival who include the dancers, band leaders, designers, caterers, tailors and sanitation workers, stressing that they are the “true custodians of Cross River’s cultural pride and resilience.”

The governor enumerated innovations introduced into the mega event by his administration to include reintroduction of the Junior Carnival, Night of Kings and Queens, the Ikom Carnival, and the Ogoja Carnival.

“We are not just celebrating a carnival; we are celebrating the soul of our people and the heartbeat of Cross River’s tourism and creative economy,” Otu declared.

He invited all the guests at the theme’s unveiling event including diplomats, heads of foreign missions, captains of industry and fun seekers, to witness the 20th anniversary of the carnival in Calabar in December 2025.

In his remarks, the chairman, Cross River State Carnival Commission, Mr Gabe Noah, recalled the bold vision that birthed the ceremony at the turn of the millennium and transformed a 12-kilometre stretch into the world’s longest carnival route.

He noted that the festival had evolved from a spectacle to an economic platform, attracting support from AfriExim Bank and Deloitte, among other renowned partners.

“Our young people now dance not just to entertain, but to earn, to express and to inspire. Carnival Calabar is a living legacy of purpose-driven culture,” he said.

Tourism expert and Africa’s cultural ambassador, Ikechi Ukoh, also described the carnival as a rare African tourism product with enduring global appeal.

He called for deeper support from the Federal Government and expressed optimism about the participation of icons like Donald Duke, Liyel Imoke and Senator Gershom Bassey.

The UN resident representative, Elsie Atafuwa, described the carnival as a cultural powerhouse which aligns with global development goals and called for collaborations to promote SDGs, UNESCO heritage status, and youth-focused cultural exchanges.

“Culture is not a luxury. It is power, identity, and peace,” Atafuwa said, adding that Calabar modeled how heritage could drive unity and progress.

Similarly, the executive secretary of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Obi Asika, highlighted the role of Carnival Calabar in advancing Afrobeats saying it is potentially the world’s biggest music event.

He urged investment in storytelling to reclaim Cross River’s place on the global cultural stage and pledged continued support.

Also, the director-general of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation, Aisha Adamu, reaffirmed her agency’s commitment to expanding the carnival’s reach to the Caribbean and beyond.